This book is full of misused words and is one of the most painful examples of chick lit. The protagonist has slept with 20 men, none of the relationshThis book is full of misused words and is one of the most painful examples of chick lit. The protagonist has slept with 20 men, none of the relationships work out, and she goes back to see if she can make any of the "relationships" work out. Painful example of what "feminism" means these days: sleeping with men without a second thought....more

This book certainly kept me turning the pages but I have to say, Crichton is getting more and more political as he ages and it is sometimes hilariousThis book certainly kept me turning the pages but I have to say, Crichton is getting more and more political as he ages and it is sometimes hilarious to uncover the not-so-hidden agenda in his books....more

About a million times better than her first novel, this book has some insight and some compassion even if some of the device the author uses doesn't fAbout a million times better than her first novel, this book has some insight and some compassion even if some of the device the author uses doesn't flow as well as it should and the ending is entirely implausible....more

Since E. Lockhart is my favorite YA author, I had to read this book the second it landed on my desk. It's written from three perspectives with each auSince E. Lockhart is my favorite YA author, I had to read this book the second it landed on my desk. It's written from three perspectives with each author taking one girl. They don't tell you off the bat who wrote which chapter but after reading for awhile, I'm proud to say I figured it out and double-checked it in the back and good ol' E's writing style is there, as usual. Overall, the book was cute and generally well-rounded. Three girls take a road trip through Florida and despite their differences and the fights that spice up the book, they pull through. It's a reminder that road trips can drive you crazy, especially when you are hiding things from your friends and now you have to hide it while stuck in a moving vehicle....more

This is a fluffy book about a woman cooking for her man. While not my favorite, it's one of the early books about serious food, with a lot of love andThis is a fluffy book about a woman cooking for her man. While not my favorite, it's one of the early books about serious food, with a lot of love and cooking for the author's beau....more

Written as a novel, reads like a memoir since it's based on true experiences. Supposedly set in my hometown by a hometown author, with Montclair in thWritten as a novel, reads like a memoir since it's based on true experiences. Supposedly set in my hometown by a hometown author, with Montclair in the title, I was hoping the book was more setting driven....more

Surprisingly good! A play on romantic comedy with all the twists and turns explicitly plotted out. This is the story of a screenwriter's broken marriaSurprisingly good! A play on romantic comedy with all the twists and turns explicitly plotted out. This is the story of a screenwriter's broken marriage and the imaginary girlfriend he creates to make his estranged wife jealous. His creation backfires in a way but not the way you would expect. The protagonist wants to elevate the romantic comedy as a genre and I think the real author has done a good job of elevating the genre while leaving the good bits intact....more

I would have liked it better if they were actually searching for Atlantis. And that, my friends, is as much as I'll reveal about the book. It does keeI would have liked it better if they were actually searching for Atlantis. And that, my friends, is as much as I'll reveal about the book. It does keep you up at night and turning the pages. It also sets up well for a sequel that I don't really want to read....more

I sat down yesterday with my dinner and read this book cover to cover. In the book, Ginny travels to Europe after she receives instructions in letterI sat down yesterday with my dinner and read this book cover to cover. In the book, Ginny travels to Europe after she receives instructions in letter form from her recently dead aunt. While the premise could make the book awful, the dead aunt's letters are poignant and nutty, just like she is remembered by her niece, and Ginny is a regular girl on a wacky trip. It is a case of a book with a cool premise actually being a cool book, a quick read, and a great way to get away from your life for a couple of hours....more

There is something about Maureen Johnson's books that makes them page turners, not in the classic, suspenseful sense, but in the sense that you want tThere is something about Maureen Johnson's books that makes them page turners, not in the classic, suspenseful sense, but in the sense that you want to see what happens to these characters. In this book, Clio is stuck on a boat with her crazy father, his girlfriend, his girlfriend's daughter Elsa, and, of course, a cute boy she and Elsa both like. Hijinks and hurt feelings ensue!...more

This is the book that started the Maureen Johnson kick and I have to tell you, New York City is always a great setting but on top of that, Scarlett liThis is the book that started the Maureen Johnson kick and I have to tell you, New York City is always a great setting but on top of that, Scarlett lives in a failing hotel with her family, a hotel that seriously starts failing on her fifteenth birthday. That is, until a rich actress comes to stay and Scarlett winds up working as her personal assistant. Scarlett's brother and sisters are both surprisingly well-developed characters with their own problems and relationships that contribute very well to moving the plot forward. My only gripe would be that the ending is slightly too neat and happy, but just slightly....more

I can thank my brother for this thriller that I grabbed for the plane ride back to Chicago, and let me tell you, it's good plane ride reading. Aside fI can thank my brother for this thriller that I grabbed for the plane ride back to Chicago, and let me tell you, it's good plane ride reading. Aside from that, there may be a little too much going on what with cloning people from the year zero CE, an ancient plague come back to life, raiding of ancient grave sites, teen geniuses creating wonky creatures grown in artificial wombs, I won't continue. But if you're into that sort of thing, like my brother, read this book....more

Ooh, is this girlie and fabulous. There are pirates, gorgeous guards, Turkish bathhouses, intrigue and much more. Once you find out what happens withOoh, is this girlie and fabulous. There are pirates, gorgeous guards, Turkish bathhouses, intrigue and much more. Once you find out what happens with the mysterious artifact that Paula's father has been trying to get his hands on the whole book, you're treated to a good 50 pages of serious love story. Marillier combines mystery and a fantasy world with a wholesome love story that may be a bit much for my usual taste but is wonderful despite that. It also is a stand alone novel despite it's relation to her previous book, Wildwood Dancing....more

I should have known better than to read this book but someone said it was good. Someone said it was for twentysomethings and it made her cry and she cI should have known better than to read this book but someone said it was good. Someone said it was for twentysomethings and it made her cry and she couldn't believe it was written by the Travelling Pants author. Still, I should have known better. If you would like a sappy book told in semi-omniscient third person that includes death, disease, a love story, Fire Island, discovering yourself and other sappy themes, read this book. Despite my fervent hopes, it gets sappier and sappier as it progresses. I'm surprised I made it to the end....more

Extraordinarily addictive! There's something about the voice of the teenage nerd girl Emerson Watts stuck in the body of this supermodel and realizingExtraordinarily addictive! There's something about the voice of the teenage nerd girl Emerson Watts stuck in the body of this supermodel and realizing that to look good you might have to (gasp!) take extra care of yourself and your skin, along with the crazy premise. By the time I hit the sequel, I wanted the second book because I'm fairly sure there are more brain transplant people wandering around New York City....more